Playing at Forever - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,7

the ocean. She reached up to her face, as if to brush away a tear—and he remembered the feel of her cheek beneath his thumb.

He took his helmet off then, needing to really see her.

It was almost as if he were breathing fresh air for the first time in a very long time—even just seeing her was refreshing.

Tommy lifted himself from the bike and kicked the stand down, allowing it to remain in place. He took a step toward her, feeling his heart pounding erratically in his chest.

Was it strange that he was taken back almost fifteen years in this moment? That catching even just the briefest glimpse of her captivated him in such a way he had only once experienced it before—and even then, with her?

He hesitated for a moment, running through the possibilities. What would he say? How would he explain himself?

Penny turned then, the light from the streetlamp casting down directly over her, illuminating her in the darkness.

And much like she had done all those years ago, Penelope Lang took Tommy Davidson’s breath away.

For a moment, Penelope thought she was hallucinating. She thought she had slipped back into her earlier fantasy, imagining the dark, handsome hero coming to her rescue.

It was a recurring daydream, the players always the same. Kevin, the neglectful husband, and Tommy, the passionate protector.

Reality, however, was so much more complicated.

And so when she felt an odd tingling sensation raising the hairs on the back of her neck, Penny looked up—her eyes landing on a very familiar figure, dressed head to toe in black, leaning against the motorcycle he had no doubt ridden into town. She had to pinch herself in order to determine whether or not she should believe her eyes.

She closed them tightly together and held them so for a long moment, only to find the same sight before her as a moment before.

The moment she heard his cocky little chuckle, she knew.

“It’s me, Penny.”

“Tommy?” her voice was heavy with doubt.

“It’s been a long time since anyone has called me that.” And before she could stop herself, she was running forward, throwing her arms around his neck and breathing him in.

For the briefest moment, she allowed herself to enjoy her reality.

She felt him wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. Heard him breathe in the scent of her hair.

It felt like coming home after a long, horrible day. A sense of relief. Of completion. Penny closed her eyes as they filled with tears—not of sadness, no. But of joy. And she sighed quietly, her heart pounding to life for what seemed like the first time in a decade.

“This is exactly what I was hoping for.” She felt his breath against her ear.

Of course, he had to ruin it by reminding her that this was not what he deserved. Penelope sighed as she slowly opened her eyes. The moment had passed—she could see it in Tommy’s eyes as well. The last ten years rushed over her, bringing with it a wave of emotion she found difficult to navigate.

“You look great, Penny,” she stared at him, her eyes suddenly guarded, her mind rushing. “Won’t you say something?”

It took her several long moments to speak. “What are you doing here?” It was the most neutral ‘something’ she could manage. Part of her wanted to lash out at him for waltzing back into her life after ten years of silence. Another part wanted to hear that cocky little chuckle again—see the arrogant grin she’d always loved to hate. And another part wanted to run away out of shame.

It had been ten years, and what did she have to show for it? Especially in comparison to Tommy. Ten long years—Tommy had made a life.

Penny had sacrificed one.

No, she thought to herself. That wasn’t accurate. She loved The Seaside. It was her dream—her baby.

“I came because…” Tommy breathed in a haggard sounding breath, running his hand through his already-messy hair. She could tell that he didn’t know how to reply, and it took him several moments to compose his response. “I needed to get away.”

“So you chose Ravenside, of all places?” she crossed her arms over her chest so that she would be less tempted to pull him into another embrace. The instinct was just so natural. Having him here, right in front of her, brought it all back.

“It’s quiet here.”

“You hated it here.”

“That’s not true.” But they both knew it was. He’d hated it so much that he hadn’t even waited until graduation to take